Johan Santana signs a 6-year, $137.5 million deal with the New York Mets

This Day In Baseball

On February 1, 2008 — In the richest contract ever given to a pitcher, southpaw Johan Santana agrees to a $137.5 million, six-year deal, breaking Barry Zito’s record. This completes the blockbuster trade between the Twins and the Mets. In exchange for the two-time Cy Young award winner, who would be lost to free agency after the season, Minnesota gets four of New York’s highly touted minor leaguers, including three top pitching prospects, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, and Deolis Guerra as well as fleet-footed outfielder Carlos Gomez. Only a physical remains and this will be passed a day later.